Domestic appliance



June 7, 1960 Filed July 19, 1956 K. K. KESLING DOMESTIC APPLIANCE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

6 7121? Jfjfesliny 4-. BY

17/5 ATTOK/Vi) ljnited States Patent 2,939,465 DOMESTIC APPLIANCE Keith K. Kesling, Dayton, Ohio, assignor to. General Motors Corporation, Detroit, Mich., a corporation of Delaware V Filed'July 19, 1956, Ser. No. 598,771 2 Claims. c1. 1s4-'-11s This invention relates to domestic appliances, and more particularly to automatic dishwashers.

An object of this inventionis to provide an automatic dishwasher with a removable wheeled cart adapted to be loaded with dishes at a distance from the dishwasher and to be wheeled adjacent to the dishwasher with the loaded dishes correctly positioned relatively to the dishwasher spray means so the dishwashing operation may then be performed without removal of the dishes from the cart. v 1

Another object of this invention is to provide an automatic dishwasher and wheeled cart according to the foregoing object, in which the wheeled'cart is provided with a cover wall adapted to cover the access opening of the dishwasher when the dish cart is in place.

Another object of the invention is. to provide an auto matic dishwasher and wheeled cart according to either of the foregoing objects of this invention of such construction that additional wheeled carts of similar construction may be loaded and used in the same dishwasher.

Another object of this invention is to provide an automatic dishwasher, for example, according to either of the foregoing objects, with grinding means adapted to grind food particles washed from the dishes for discharge into a drain or the like.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, wherein a preferred form of the present invention is clearly shown.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a vertical cross-section, somewhat diagrammatic, of a dishwasher embodying the invention and taken mainly along the line 1--1 of Figure 5;

Figure '2 is a vertical cross-section, taken along a varying plane, as indicated by the line 22 of Figure 5; V

Figure 3 is a vertical cross-section, somewhatalong the same plane as Figure l but showing substantially only. the wheeled cart;

. Figure 4 is a vertical cross-section taken along the planes indicated by the line 4-4 of Figure 5 but showing substantially only the wheeled cart;

Figure 5 is a horizontal cross-section tially along the line 55 of Figure '2;

Figure 6 is 'a crosssection, substantially along a similar plane as in Figure 1 but showing a modification;

Figure 7 is a partial cross-sectional view taken along the line 7-7 of Figure 6; and 1 I t Figure 8 is an elevation of a household adaptation of the invention wherein additional wheeled carts may be used.

A dishwashing casing is adapted to'be stationarily mounted, for example, in a household kitchen cabinet, such as illustrated in Fig. 8. Such dishwashing casing may include a six-sided, generally rectangularly crosssectioned casing having a relatively large access opening 10in thevertical front wall 11. 'A drain opening 12 is provided in the'horizontal bottom .wall 13 and a water taken substanrecirculating opening 14 isprovided in the vertical rear I the lower edge of the access opening.

Patented June 7, 1960 ice wall 15. Two vertical side walls 11a and a horizontal top wall-11b complete thesix-sided casing. A spray tube extends from said recirculating opening 14 toward said access opening. A water recirculating means 16 has an inlet 17 connected with the drain opening 16 and has a discharge 18 having a connection 19' and 20 with the example, when the solenoid of valve 21 is energized, thewater in the casing is emptied by being discharged into a drain through pipe 22. Alternatively, if the solenoidis not energized, then the water in the sump 23, formed by bottom wall 13, is recirculated through the hose 19, distributor 20 and rotating, perforated pipe 16a. The water is sprayed radially and forwardly and baokwardly from various spray openings against dishes 23a, glases 24, cups 25 'and silverware 26 carried by the dish tray means preferably comprising an upper tray 27 and a lower dish tray 28.

' Hot wash or rinse water is introduced into the casing by means of the hot water pipe 30, connected to the usual household water heater. The pipe 30 is provided with a solenoid valve31 and discharges downwardly into the funnel 32', having an outlet 33. within the casing. The.

outlet of pipe 30 is above the rim of the funnel 32 to prevent suction of water back into the citywater system,-in case of a temporary vacuurnin such system. The solenoid valve 31 may be provided'with a constant volume discharge controller such that the timer (not shown) may discharge a time-measured volume of water in the sump 23, as required.

The water recirculating means 16 may include a centrifugal pump 34 and a motor 35. i

The general details of construction of operation and construction of the casing and the water flow therein may be substantially the same as shown and described in U. S. patent to Abresch and McCormick, No. 2,734,520,

granted February 14, 1956, and/orin their pending application Ser. No. 453,462, now Patent No. 2,808,063, filed September 1, 1954, --fo'r Domestic Dishwashing Appliance, to which reference is made, if necessary, for further details'of construction and operation.

'A' wheeled cart 40 has a cover wall 41. The cart is adapted to be 'wheeled against the vertical front wall 11 of the casingwith the cover wall 41 closing andcovering the access opening 10.; The dish tray means, such as the upper dish tray 27 and lower disk tray 28 are carried by the wall 41 of cart 40 in such a manner as to extend around thespra'y tube 16a. Preferably, the trays 27 and 28 are placed above and below the tube 16a in sucha manner that the spray streams from the tube arevdirected against the most soiled surfaces articles to be washed.

Sealing means may beplaced either on the casing or the cover wall 41 around the periphery of the access opening 10 to prevent water from escaping along such periphery. For example, a rubber-like head 45 may be placedeither on the cover wall or casing along the upper end and side edges of the access opening. A slanting baflle 46may be carried by the cover wall 41 adjacen An inverted cup-like screen 50 is placed over the drain opening 12. It is supported by a spring construction in such a manner that its lower edge is spaced materially above the opening 12 when there is a suction by pump 34.with a shallow amount of water in the sump 23. The screen 50 is pulled down by the suction of the pump, however, when arelatively deep amount of water is in of the dishes and other the sump, such as during the normal recirculating wash. This screen construction is more fully shown and. described in the said Abresch and McCormick Patent 2,734,- 520 to which reference is made for a more detailed disclosure thereof.

. The. casing has a front apron 51 which hangs down the front of the casing below the lower edge of the access opening. The apron 51 inwardly directed edges 52, which join the inwardly offset vertical edges 53 to form openings 54 into which the side walls 55 and wheels 56 of the cart may travel when the cart 40 is pushed adjacent the dishwasher. Conveniently, the cart has a lower platform 57 to which the side walls 55 are attached. The platform 57 :and side walls 55 are attached to the lower part 5.8 of the cover wall 41. The hubs of the wheels 56 are attached to the side walls 55.

A reinforcing transverse wall '59 joins the side walls 55. Its upper edge is sufiiciently low to pass under the motor 35 and the horizontal portion 60 of the drain pipe 22.

if desired, the casing side walls 11a may be supported on vertical channels :61 which rest on the floor 62 of the house. One or :more ba'ffied air vents 63 may be made in the cover wall 41 to allow thefiow of warm moisture laden air out of the dishwasher during the final drying period.

If desired, a food grinder (Figs. 6 and 7) may be 'incorporated in the dishwasher. Preferably, the grinder may form part of the water recirculating means. For example, the grinder may have the general construction 'shown in the patent to J. H. Powers, No. 2,322,058, granted June 1'5, 1953, which discloses grinding means 65 and a centrifugal pump34a, and motor 35a corresponding to pump 34-and motor 35 of Figs. 1 through 5. All other parts of the construction of Figs. 6 and 7 are the same as in Figs. 1 through 5 with the following exceptions. Preferably, a cold water spray maybe introduced by a cold water line and cold water solenoid valve. water is flushed down the drain pipe 22. Thereafter, the washing cycle of operations used in Figs. 1 through 3 may proceed.

The bottom 57 and sides 55 of the cart of Figs. 6 and 7 may be joined together by braces 59a instead of the bracing "wall 59 of Figs. 1 through 5. Such con- ?struction of the cart permits a lower clearance for the grinder construction, and such construction may be used, if desired, in connection with Figs. '1 through 5.

Fig. 8 "shows a kitchen construction in which a kitchen cabinet has a top 8!) (also designated so in Figs. l-'5 for identification). The dishwasher according to this invention is indicated 'at 81a'nd may embody the features 'disclosed in Figs J 7. Additional carts 82 and 83, similar to those disclosed in Figs. l-7 may be used alternatively adjacent the dishwasher 81, and thecart originally 'in the dishwasher may be interchangeably inserted in the spaces or' carts 82 or 83. If desired, dishes particularly 'suitabl'e'for each meal (breakfast, lunch and dinner), maybe stored'in the respective carts. They may remain in each cart after washing until used for the 're-,

spective meal.

The dishwasher o'fFigs. l-S may be provided with a timer and other controls as disclosed in the Abresch and McCormickpat'ent and/or application. The schedule of operations maybe the same as disclosed by Abresch'and McCormick, or -any other schedule that may be desired. The timer for the dishwasher of Figs. 6 and 7 may be rounding the spray tube 16a. Thereafter, the timer is started and the operations disclosed by Abresch and Mc- Cormick may proceed. The other carts 82 and 83 of Fig. 8, if used, may be loaded and the dishes washed in an alternative manner, as above disclosed.

In the modification of Figs. 6 and 7 the soiled dishes are placed in the cart, as previously described, and the cart is placed adjacent the dishwasher. The timer is started and energizes the cold water solenoid ito fill the sump with cold water to the desired level. This cold water is recirculated by the pump 34a through the connecting tube 19 and rotating tube, as in Figs. 1-5 for asuitable length of time during which the screen 50 is pulled down by the heavy suction action to prevent recirculation of food After a period of cold water recirculation the the same as disclosed by Ab'resc'h and McCormick except that a cold water pipe'an'd solenoid is added and thetirner may have a preliminary cold wa ter'interval. i

In the operation o'f th'e embodiment of Figs. 'l-S, the

dishes and other articles are loaded on the trays 27 and while the cartis o'utsidethe dishwasher at any convenient'place for loading. Thereafter, the cart is moved adjacent 'tlte'dishwasher with the trays 27 and '28 surparticles. Thereafter, the selector valve 18 is energized and the cold water is discharged through drain pipe 22. As the level of the water falls in sump 23, the screen 50 is raised by the spring construction (not shown) and the :food particles fiow into the grinder 65 and are ground and discharged into the drain 22. If desired, the timer may again open the cold water valve simultaneously with the valve 18 to provide a relatively long grinding and cold water flushing period. Thereafter, the cycle of operations disclosed by Abresch and McCormick may pro-. ceed.

The cover wall 41 is provided with a double bolt construction in the rear of the. wall 41 and a handle 96 for actuating the bolts 95 into proper slots in the casing to hold the wall 41 tightly against the casing during the washing operation.

Many of the advantages of this invention may be used in combination with other dishwashers.

While the form 'of-embodiment'of the invention as here: in disclosed constitutes a preferred form, it is to be understood that other forms might be adopted, as may come within the scope of the claims which follow.

What is claimed is as follows:

1. In combination, a dishwasher having a stationary portion and 'a'mobile portion, said stationary portion including a drain and comprising an outer casing having an access opening in the front thereof, an inner casing having a relatively smaller access opening in line with the first said opening, an aperture in a rear portion of said inner casing, -a spray tube extending from said aperture toward said access openings, a conically formed bottom portion, an outlet in said bottom portion, pump means connected to said outlet and adapted to discharge water alternately to said drain and said aperture, and power means for said pump, said casings provided with a lower opening below said conically formed bottom portion, said mobile portion comprising a vertical cover wall adapted to close said openings, a flange on said cover wall extending into overlying relationship with one edge of the smaller of said access openings, a plurality of dish tray means secured to said cover wall and adapted to extend on opposite sides of said spray tube when said cover wall closes said access openings, :a single permanently fixed horizontal base memberattached along one side to said vertical wall and-extending substantially across the width of said vertical wall and received within said lower openfalling from said dish tray means when said mobile portionis removed from said stationary portion, and wheels on said 'side walls facilitating movement of said mobile portion between a source of dishes to be washed and said "stationary portion.

2. A dis'hwashing ca'binet having a washing compartment and at least one storage'compartment and comprising mobile dish supporting carts "adapted to be interchangeably placed in said washing compartment for a washing operation and into said at least one compartment for storage, said washing-compartment including a drain and comprising an outer casing having an access opening in the front thereof, an inner casing having a relatively smaller access opening in line with the first said opening, an aperture in a rear portion of said inner casing, a spray tube extending from said aperture toward said access openings, a conically formed bottom portion, an outlet in said bottom portion, pump means connected to said outlet and adapted to discharge water alternately to said drain and said aperture, and power means for said pump, said casings provided with a lower openingbelow said conically formed bottom portion, each of said dish supporting carts comprising a vertical cover wall adapted to close said openings, a flange on said cover wall extending into overlying relationship with one edge of the smaller of said access openings, a plurality of dish tray means secured to said cover wall and adapted to extend on opposite sides of said spray tube when said cover wall closes said access openings, a single permanently fixed horizontal base member attached along one side to said vertical wall and extending substantially across the width of said vertical wall and received within said lower opening, said base member having an irnperforate bottom wall, upstanding side walls at each side of said bottom wall and a transverse bracing wall opposite to said vertical wall whereby said base member is adapted to catch objects falling from said dish tray means when said mobile portion is removed from said stationary portion, and wheels on said side walls facilitating movement of said dish supporting carts between a source of dishes to be washed and said washing compartment.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,550,439 Irvin Aug. 18, 1925 2,418,366 Powers Apr. 1, 1947 2,629,390 Walker Feb. 4, 1953 2,703,581 Culhane Mar. 8, 1955 2,729,219 Smith Jan. 3, 1956 2,734,520 Abresch et a1. Feb. 14, 1956 

